Switching apparatus



May 5, 1959 E. D. SMITH swncamc APPARATUS 2 SheetsShaeAt 1 Filed Feb.23, 1954 SUPH? H54 TEE STE/W 707/? DEV/(IE B sum? HEATH? STEAM TEMP.DEV/CE A naunumnnm 13 7 y 1959 E. D. SMITH 2,885,512

SWITCHING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1954 To UNIT SENSINGsmrzu SENS/N6 SWITCH 22.27 Zmb E210 D. SM! H United States PatentSWITCHING APPARATUS Eric D. Smith, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 23, 1954, Serial No. 411,626

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-98) This invention relates to annunciators or alarmdevices, particularly such as are adapted for use in engine rooms, powerplants, industrial plants, and the like, for giving a signal of theexistence of an abnormal condition at a specific place of a machine, orpart of a machine.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use where certainty ofoperation is of the utmost importance and where signals must indicatenot only momentary alarms which can be reset at once, but also mustindicate abnormal conditions which may remain for some time, and whensuch abnormal conditions have occurred the annunciator must indicate thecontinuance of the abnormal condition. When the abnormal condition hasbeen cleared the annunciator must aflirmatively indicate that fact.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an annunciator whichis of sufficient simplicity that an attendant of ordinary intelligencemay be apprised immediately of the existence of a fault in the system,the fact that the fault is being corrected, and the moment when thecorrection of that fault occurs. It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide an annunciator system which includes a plurality oflights at each annunciator and an audible alarm which, by the differentcombinations of the energized states thereof, quickly will apprise anattendant of the existence or status of a fault in the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indicating systemutilizing a plurality of lights which cooperate together to provide adifferent color indication for each of a plurality of differentconditions to be indicated. A further object of the invention is toprovide an annunciator device utilizing two signal indicating lights toprovide at least three different color indications.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an annunciatorsystem of the above type wherein the electrical circuitry and themechanical elements are simple and reliable.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple and reliableswitch actuating assembly where one actuating means operates a switchand another actuating means, in either direction of movement thereof,operates the switch into another switch position.

In accordance with one form of the invention, a number of annunciatordevices are connected each to one machine, or one part of a machine, theannunciators being all mounted adjacent to one another on a switchboardor the like. When an abnormal condition occurs on any one of themachines or places that are to be protected, a pair of lights areenergized on a particular annunciator and an audible alarm is given. Thealarm calls the attendants attention to the annunciators, and the lightson the particular annunciator involved indicate the type of fault orother condition involved, and the location thereof. The attendant thenoperates a switch which deenergizes the audible alarm and one of thelights, leaving the other light energized to indicate that anabnormality still exists and that he will proceed to 2,885,512 IPatented May 5, 1952? correct the abnormality. When the abnormality iscorrected, the audible alarm then becomes automatically energized, thelight which was previously energized becomes deenergized and the otherlight of the pair of lights which was previously deenergized thenbecomes energized. The attendant then is aware of the correction of thecondition. Although a common audible alarm is used for all theannunciators to indicate either a trouble or a correction of thetrouble, the use of two lights on each annunciator device provides theattendant with an immediate indication as to which of these twoconditions is present. He then operates a switch which deenergizes theaudible alarm, and the remaining energized light, thereby returning theparticular annunciator back to a normal, completely de-energizedcondition.

To further reduce the complexity of the annunciator system, an opticalsystem is placed in front of the pair of indicating lights whichprojects both lights in overlapping relation on a common indicatingsurface. Each of the light sources is provided with a different colorindication so that when both lights are energized the indication on theface of the common indicating surface will be of one color, which is theresultant combination of the two separate colors of the separate lights,and then, when either of the two lights is separately energized, twoother different color indications will appear on the face of the commonindicating surface. Thus, when the indicating surface is unlighted, theattendant is apprised of the fact that there is no trouble with themachine or part of the machine with which the annunciator is associated.When the attendant is attracted to the switchboard carrying theannunciator devices by the energization of an audible alarm, heimmediately knows whether the audible alarm indicates the initiation ofa fault in the system or the correction of a fault because of theparticular color indication on the switchboard. Another color indicationwithout the presence of an audible alarm indicates to the attendant thatthe fault is being corrected.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent upon making reference to the specification to follow and thedrawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a housing including a portion of thelight and switching apparatus making up the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken along section line 2-2 inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section taken along sectionline 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along section line 44 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical system of the preferredform of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical and mechanical elementsmaking up an annunciator device and shows, in dotted lines, thealternate positions of the switching apparatus associated therewith;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary end view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 4in an alternate position thereof;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along section line 88 inFig. 3; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along section line 99 inFig. 3.

Refer now to the drawings where like reference characters indicatesimilar elements throughout.

The annunciator system includes a number of annunciator units A, B, etc.(Fig. 5), associated with one or more devices, or parts of a device, notshown, the conditions of which are to be indicated by the respectiveannunciator units. For example, the devices may be steam turbines andthe annunciator units may indicate the temperature conditions of thesuperheated steam fed thereto. Each of the annunciator units includes apair of incandescent lights 2 and 4; a condition responsive or sensingswitch 6 which, in the example where the temperature condition of adevice is to be indicated, may be a thermocouple; a sensing relay swhich is controlled by the sensing switch 6; a reset relay 1% and lightswitches 12 and 14, and bell switch 16 which are controlled by relays 8and to turn the lights 2 and 4 and a hell or buzzer 18 on and ofi. Thecommon bell 18 is utilized for all of the annunciator units. The ener'gization of the reset relay 10 is controlled by a reset switch 20 whichis common to the relays of all of the annunciator units.

The relays 3 and 16, the electric lights 2 and 4, the switches 12, 14-and 16 of each annunciator unit, and a. mechanical linkage assembly 19,connected between the relays and switches for controlling the operationof the lights and hell, are mounted together on a common chassis 21,shown in Figs. 3 through 5. A pair of such chassis assembliesconstituting parts of two separate annunciator units are shown mountedin se arate compartments of a common housing 22 and each is separatelyremovable from the housing as a unit to facilitate the servicing orchanging or" the components making up each assembly. The lights 2 and 4of each assembly are supported from the front of a vertical panel 23carried by each chassis 21 and are mounted behind a translucentindicating panel 24' carried by a removable, hinged housing cover 24-,which indicating panel displays the rays from the lights. The chassisassembly makes electrical contact with components exterior of thehousing by means of a male plug connector 25 fixed to a vertical wall 21at the rear of each chassis and received by a complementary socketconnector 26 supported at the rear of the housing 22. A rear cover 27issecured to the rear of the housing 22 to cover the connectors 26 and theassociated cables.

A detailed description of the electrical circuitry utilized in thepreferred form of the invention and illustrated in Fig. 5 will now bedescribed. Electric lights 2 and 4 are connected in series with lightswitches 12 and 14, respectively, by conductors 28 and St Theunconnected terminals of the switches and electric lights are coupledacross power lines 32 and 34, respectively, via conductors 36 and 38,contacts on the plug and socket connectors 25 and 26, and conductors 49and 42. Closing the switches 12 and 14- 'wiil therefore energize thelights 2 and 4-.

The power lines 32 and 34 join respective terminal contacts 43 and 45 ona terminal strip 53. The power terminals 43 and 45 may be connected by aplug 47 into a power system.

One terminal of the bell 13 is connected to the ground terminal 45 andthe other terminal of the bell connects with a terminal contact 52 alsoon the terminal strip 53. The terminal contact 52 connects with theother power terminal 43 via an alarm bell line 46, a conductor 50,contacts on the plug and socket connector assembly 2526, a conductor 43,bell switch 16, conductor 38 and power conductor 32. The bell 18 is thusenergized when the switch 16 is closed.

One terminal of the coil of reset relay 1% is connected to a commonreset line 66 which joins a terminal contact 62 on the terminal strip53. The other terminal of the coil of relay 1% is connected to the powerline 34 via the light switch 12, the conductor .36, contacts on theconnectors 25 and 26, and the conductor 46. The reset switch 20, whichis a spring biased switch urged to the open position, is connectedbetween the reset terminal 62 and the power terminal 43. The coil ofreset relay 19 will therefore be energized when both the reset switch 20and the light switch 12 are closed.

The coil of sensing relay 8 is connected to a pair of ermi a 2 nd 6 anhe rmin s p 53; by C0111 ductors 66 and 68, a pair of contacts on theconnector assembly 2526, and the conductors "it? and 72. One terminal ofthe sensing switch 6 is connected to the terminal 64 on the strip 53 andthe other terminal thereof is in series with a power plug 7d and theother terminal strip contact 62. Closing the sensing switch 6 willtherefore energize the relay coil 8. The sensing switch of eachannunciator unit is connected to a dififerent pair of terminals on theterminal strip 53. The power lines 32 and 34, the bell line 46 and thereset line 6%} are common to all of the annunciator units. It should beunderstood that the power source for the sensing relay may be separatefrom the power source for the lamp and bell circuits. Thus, withoutadditional relays, the annunciator system can give an indication of apower failure to the devices 'whose conditions of operations areindicated by the annunciator system. Otherwise, a power failure to thedevices would also render the annunciator system inoperative.

The mechanical linkage assembly 19 associated with the relays 3 and 1dand with the switches 12, 14 and 16 operate the switches in difierentcombinations in response to the energization of the relays. Theswitching apparatus operates so that, upon the initial energizetion ofrelay 8 by the sensing switch 6, the light switches 12 and 14 and thebell switch 16 will be moved from their open to their closed positions,thereby turning the lights 2 and 4 and the hell 1% on. Due to theconstruction of the linkage assembly 19, the sensing relay 8 controlsthe closing of the light switches 12 and 14 and the bell switch 16 andthe opening of the switch 14. The reset relay 16 controls only theopening of the light switch 12 and the bell switch 16. Thus, the solefunction of the reset relay 10 is to turn oi? the light 2 and the bell18 While the sensing relay turns on both lights and the bell and turnsoff the light 4.

1n the embodiment shown in the drawings, the switches 12, 14 and 16 aremercury type switches each having a pair of spaced contacts 88 in anenvelope carrying a blob of mercury 89. When the switch is tilted in adirection such that the mercury 89 surrounds the pair of contacts 88,the switch is in a closed position. Conversely, when the switch istilted so that the mercury is in the end of the envelope opposite to thepair of contacts 88, then the switches are in their open positions.

The electric light switch 12 and the bell switch 16 are supported on acommon carrier plate 96 constituting a part of the linkage assembly 19which 'will now be described. The plate 90 in turn is carried by arotatable shaft 92 which is journalled in suitable apertures in hearingposts 94 and 96 supported on the chassis 211.

A rocker arm or plate 86 is pivotally supported at 82 to each chassis 21and is connected by a screw 84 to the armature 86 of the sensing relay8. When the relay 8 is energized, the armature 86 is drawn within therelay 8 and in so doing it pulls the rocker arm 80 toward the relayabout the pivot 82. A cam bar 98 is secured to one end of the shaft 2and it cooperates with an actuating arm 1% extending upwardly from therocker plate 80. In the normal or open position of the contacts 12 and16, the carrier plate is tilted forward so that contacts 12 and 16 arein their open position, with the mercury in the front end of the switchenvelope and the contacts 88 at the rear of the envelope. In thisposition, the operating arm 100 abuts the inclined front face of aV-shaped protuberance 102 on the front and bottom of the cam bar 98.When the relay 8 is energized and the rocker arm 86 is pivoted to theposition shown in dotted lines on the diagrammatic Fig. 6, the operatingarm 100 slides from the front to the rear side of the V-shaped camprotuberance 102 and in so doing pushes the cam bar 98 and the attachedplate 90 in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by the dottedarrow 105 in Fig. 6. The switches 12 and 16 are then in a closedposition with the mercury 89 bridging the contacts 88. In this position,the light 2 and the alarm bell 18 are energized.

The other light switch 14 is carried by a carrier member 107 freelyjournalled on the shaft 92 so that it can rotate relative to the shaftand straddling the bearing arm 94 to fix the axial position thereof. Thecarrier member 107 has a depending arm 109 which engages an extension111 of the rocker arm 80. A tension spring 112 urges the carrier member107 counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 8 to urge the extension 111 of therocker arm 80 counterclockwise towards its forward position. The mercuryswitch 14 is so positioned on the carrier member 107 that when the arm109 is in its forwardmost position the switch is open, with the mercury89 in the rear of the switch envelope and the spaced switch contacts 88at the front thereof. When the rocker arm 80 is pivoted rearwardly bythe energization of the relay 8, the rocker arm extension 111 pushesagainst the carrier arm 109 and moves the carrier member clockwise aboutthe shaft 92 so as to close the mercury switch 14 by tilting the same atan angle which will bring the mercury 89 between the switch contacts 88.The carrier plate 90 and the carrier member 107 are pivoted in oppositedirections by the rearward movement of the rocker arm 80 and the mercuryswitches 12 and 16, on the one hand, and the switch 14, on the otherhand, are therefore tilted and mounted in opposite relationship so thatthe switches will be simultaneously closed by the rocker arm 80.

The position of the carrier member 107 and the light switch 14 in itsclosed position is shown in dotted lines in the diagrammatic Fig. 6.When the relay 8 is deenergized, the light switch 14 is moved to itsopen position by the spring 112 which urges the carrier arm 109 to itsforward position. Movement of the rocker arm 80 is limited by means of astop screw 114.

Means is provided for actuating the carrier plate 90 in a directionwhich will tilt the mercury switches 12 and 16 forward so as to bringthe mercury out of contact with the contacts 88 independently of theposition of the rocker arm 80. This means comprises a C-shaped collar116 which is fixedly connected to the shaft 92. The collar is urgedagainst the bearing post 96 by a compression spring 117 extendingbetween the bearing post and a pin 119 extending from the shaft 92. Thecollar 116 has a bottom leg 118 which is below the shaft 92 and extendsforward into the path of movement of a rocker plate or arm 120. Therocker arm 120 is pivoted at 122 and is connected for movement with thearmature 123 of the reset relay 10. The forward movement of the rockerarm 120 is limited by a stop screw 121. The bottom leg 118 of the collar116 is moved rearward when the rocker arm 120 is pivoted to the rear bythe energization of the relay which draws its armature 123 axiallyinward. Since the collar 116 is fixedly connected to the shaft 92, thismovement of the collar 116 is coupled to the carrier plate 90 so as tomove it in a clockwise direction where the switches 12 and 16 are tiltedin a position to bring the mercury out of contact with the switchcontacts 88. The alarm bell 18 and the electric light 4 are therebydeenergized.

The latter two elements may be re-energized by the forward or clockwisepivotal movement of the rocker arm 80 which results from thede-energizing of the sensing relay 8. Note that the mercury switches 12and 16 were previously closed by the rearward or counter-clockwisemovement of the rocker arm 80. With the relay 8 energized and the cambar 98 pivoted to its forward position (see Fig. 7), the de-energizationof the sensing relay 8 will pivot the rocker arm 80 forward andclockwise. In so doing, the actuating arm 100 thereof pushes against therear face of the V-shaped protuberance 102 so as to pivot the carrierplate 90 counter-clockwise about the shaft 92, thereby closing themercury contacts 12 and 16. The other light switch 14 is then returnedto its open position by the spring 112 which may now urge the arm 109 ofthe carrier member 107 forward to tilt the metcury switch 14 to its openposition. Thus, due to the shape of the cam bar 98 and the position ofthe operating arm 100 of the rocker arm with respect thereto, theswitches 12 and 16 are moved to their closed position in eitherdirection of movement of the rocker arm 80.

The complete operation of the relay and actuating mechanism associatedwith an annunciator unit, such as unit A, for example, is as follows: Inthe normal or deenergized state of the apparatus, the spring 112 urgesthe rocker arm 80 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7and the positions of the carrier members and 107 are such that themercury switches 12, 14

and 16 are in their open position. The lights 2 and 4 and the alarm bell18 are therefore de-energized. When the sensing switch 6 is closed,which occurs when a given condition, such as a temperature, has deviatedfrom a desired value, the relay 8 is energized and the rearward movementof the rocker arm 80 imparts a counterclockwise movement of the carrierplate 90 and a clockwise movement of the carrier member 107 to therebyclose the mercury switches 12, 14 and 16. The lights 2 and 4 and thealarm bell 18 are therefore energized. The attendant is attracted to thelight panels 24' and from the energization of both lights 2 and 4 he isapprised of the fact that a fault exists with the device associated withthe annunciator unit No. A. The reset button 20 is then momentarilydepressed which energizes the reset relay 10 and causes the rocker arm120 to pivot counter clockwise as seen in Figs. 6 and 9 and push thecollar arm and the attached shaft 92 in a clockwise direction. Thiscarries the attached carrier plate 90 and cam bar 98 clockwise to theposition shown in Fig. 7 to open the light switch 12 and the bellcontact 16 to turn the light 2 and bell off. The other light switch 14remains unaffected since the rocker arm 80 remains held in its rearwardposition by the relay armature 86. Therefore the arm 109 is held in theswitch closed position. Thus, only the light 4 remains energized. Whenthe fault is corrected, the sensing switch 6 automatically opens whichcauses the sensing relay 8 to be de-energized. The rocker arm 80therefore pivots clockwise and the operating arm 100 thereof pushesagainst the cam bar 98 and moves it in a counter-clockwise direction soas to close the switches 12 and 16 and energize the light 2 and the bell18. At the same time, the carrier member 107 is released and it pivotscounterclockwise under the force of the spring 112. This opens theswitch 14 which de-energizes the light 4. The attendant is then againattracted to the light panel 24' by the alarm bell 18 and he is apprisedof the fact that the fault has been corrected. He then depresses thereset button 20 momentarily which again energizes the reset relay 10.The rocker arm pushes against the collar leg 118 which moves the shaft92 and the attached carrier plate 90 forward to open the contacts 12 and16 and de-energize the light 2 and the alarm bell 18. In this condition,all of the lights and the alarm bell are de-energized and theannunciator device involved is in its quiescent condition.

It should be understood that, if desired, the sensing switch 6 may bearranged to open rather than to close the circuit associated with thesensing relay 8 if any fault occurs in the system. Under theseconditions, the relay 8 would be energized during the quiescent ornormal operation of the system and the occurrence of a fault wouldde-energize the relay 8. The only modification necessary to enable thesystem to operate in a manner similar to that previously described, isto orientate the mercury switch 14 so that, when the mercury switch 14is in its rear position, it is open rather than closed and vice versa.

In order to simplify the indication produced on each indicating panel24', each panel is associated with an optical prism 129. The prism iscolored white and is front face 24' due to the red plate 137.

transl cen a the in i a n p n ns tut s h front face of the prism. The'prisrn includes two rear faces 133 and 135, respectively, whichconverge rear- 'wardly fromthe outer extremities of the front face 24'.

A transparent red plate 137 may be secured to the prism face 133 and atransparent green plate may be secured to the other inclined prism face135. The apex 140 of the prism assembly is located between the lightbulbs 2 and 4 so that the light from each bulb strikes only the adjacentcolored plate 137 or 139. The light from the bulbs 2 and 4 are displayedin overlapping relationship on the front face 24"of the prism. When thelight 2 is lit, a green light will appear on the front face 24 of theprism due to the green plate 139. When the other light 2 is separatelylit, a red light will appear on the When both lights are lit, adifferent color will appear on the front face 131 which is the resultantof the red and green colors of the light displayed in overlappingrelationship 7 on the front face of the prism. In this'inanner, thecondition being measured may be more readily determined. Four colors areeffectively produced since the de-energized state of the lamps 2 and 4appear as the color of the prism, which in the described embodiment iswhite.

adapted to move said first switching means into said first positionthereof, and second switch actuating means adapted to actuate saidsecond switching means into said first position thereof when it is movedin one direction and to actuate said second switching means into itssecond position when the latter actuating means is moved in the oppositedirection, said second switch actuating means also being adapted toengage said first switching means when the first switching means is insaid first position to move the same to said second position thereof,

in either direction of movement of the second switch actuating means.

2. Switching apparatus comprising a switching means, means for pivotallysupporting the contact carrying portions of said switching means formovement into first and second angular positions to operate saidswitching means into first and second electric circuit changingpositions, first rocker arm means adapted to move said switching meansinto said first angular position thereof, said switching means having acam surface, and a second rocker arm means adapted to make engagementwith said cam surface to pivot same from said first angular position tosaid second angular position when moved in either direction, saidswitching means being adapted to be moved from said second angularposition to said first position by said first rocker arm means withoutdisturbing the position of said second rocker arm means.

3. Switching apparatus comprising a switching means including movablecontact carrying portions, means for pivotally supporting the contactcarrying portions of said switching means for movement into first andsecond angular positions to operate said switching means into first andsecond electric circuit changing positions, first rocker arm meansadapted to move said switching means into said first angular positionthereof, said switching means having a projecting outer cam surface, asecond rocker arm means movable between alternate opposition positionsadapted in the two opposite positions thereof, respectively, to makecamming engagement with said projecting cam surface when said switchingmeans is in said first angular position and, in movement to either ofsaid alternate positions said second rocker arm pushing said cam surfaceaside in the same direction to thereby position the switching means intosaid second angular position, said second rocker arm means being movablesufiiciently clear of said cam surface to enable said first rocker armmeans to return said switching means into said first position thereofwithout interference from said second rocker arm means.

4. Switching apparatus comprising a first and second switching means, apivot shaft, a first pivotally mounted carrier means carrying said firstswitching means, a second pivotally mounted carrier means carrying saidsecond switching means, said first carrier means being adapted to movesaid first switching means into first and second angular positions tooperate same respectively to first and second electric circuit changingpositions, said second carrier means being adapted to move said secondswitching means into first and second angular positions where the secondswitching means is respectively actuated to first and second electriccircuit changing positions, first rocker arm means being adapted toengage said first carrier means in only one direction of movementthereof to move said first switching means into said first positionthereof, a second rocker arm means adapted to engage said second carriermeans from the opposite extreme position thereof to eifect the pivotingof said second carrier means and the consequent movement of the secondswitching means to said respective angular positions thereof, a camsurface associated with said first carrier means and being adapted to beengaged and moved by said first rocker arm means to its second positionfrom either of its extreme positions when said first switching means isin its first position, said second rocker arm means being ineffectual tomove said first carrier means when the first switching means carriedthereby is in its second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,701,398 Vickery Feb. 5, 1929 2,086,197 Warner July 6, 1937 2,161,614Cunningham June ,6, 1939 2,428,096 Reavis Sept. 30, 1947 2,600,132Seaton June 10, 1952 2,646,557 Smith July 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS176,342 Great Britain July 13, 1922

